Streaks violinists to play show on national tour

Eight Woodstock High School orchestra students will perform Nov. 7 with an international touring act at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.

The Piano Guys, pianist John Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharpo, began as YouTube sensations in 2011 where their classical and pop performances eventually drew more than 7 million subscribers and 100s of million of video views 

 They’ve since recorded several albums and have performed live in Germany,   Japan, Russia and Australia among other locations. The Piano Guys current   national tour includes venues in Seattle, Portland, Columbus and Scottsdale,   Arizona

 Woodstock High School Orchestra Director Lyndra Bastian said the students will   accompany The Piano Guys on violin for a performance of Beethoven’s 5   Secrets..

 “The students are extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity. All have   learned the piece to their highest potential and now are working on memorizing it.   We’re so grateful to The Piano Guys and their amazing team for this opportunity!"   Bastian said.

 

One of the students, senior Julia Laidig, said the concert is a great way to spread word about Woodstock Community Unit School District 200’s outstanding orchestra program.

‘I feel like now the whole state will know about our program because we’re going out on stage with this cool group of musicians,” Laidig said.

Bastian said 13 WHS orchestra students auditioned for the concert. The eight performing are Brisa Choco, Julia Laidig, Aya Mosley, Landon Thompson, Grace Sebastian, Yaxiri Ramos, Lucas Balgeman, and Julia Morrow. Because of their busy schedules including normal orchestra, sports and other activities, they’ve been rehearsing at 7 am on Fridays.

Sophomore Julia Morrow said she was excited about the performance and the opportunity to try something new.

“I thought it was cool how we had to memorize. It gives us a sense of what true orchestra performers do because a lot of people can play by memory, so I feel like it’s a step up from normal orchestra,” she said.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 performance at Genesee Theatre are available at tickermaster.com. To learn more about The Piano Guys, visit thepianoguys.com.